Influence of pretreatment and desiccation on the germination of Laurus nobilis L. seeds

The effects of moist stratification, gibberellic acid (GA3) in combination with cold-moist stratification and desiccation on the germination of bay laurel (Laurus nobilis L.) seeds were studied. It was found that the external fleshy pericarp caused dormancy. There was also embryo dormancy and it was broken in seeds lacking pericarp either warm-moist stratification (20 degrees C day/4 degrees C night) or cold-moist stratification (4 degrees C) for 8 and 10 weeks, respectively. Gibberellic acid had little effect on germination percent and germination value of seeds without pericarp when used alone but significantly increased overall germination performance when used with cold-moist stratification. The viability of seeds dropped when the moisture content of the seeds was reduced by desiccation, and the time required to reach the critical moisture levels in the seeds differed in the different desiccation temperatures. The critical minimum seed moisture content for bay laurel was around 15% and the seeds showed the typical behavior of recalcitrant seeds.     

Effects of some pretreatments on germination of bladder-senna (Colutea armena Boiss. and Huet.) and smoke-tree (Cotinus coggygria Scop.) seeds

This study was carried out to determine effects of pre-treatments including floating in hot water(100 degrees C) followed by continual cooling for 24 hr in the same water floating in tap water for 24 hr submersion in concentrate (98%) sulphuric acid (H2SO4) and cold stratification for different durations (20, 40 and 60 days) and their combinations on seed germination and to investigate how to overcome dormancy of seeds of Colutea armena Boiss. and Huet. and Cotinus coggygria Scop. The seeds were sown in polyethylene pots in the greenhouse and on seedbeds under open field conditions. The statistical design was a randomized complete block design with three replications. The highest germination percentage (77.19%), the best germination rate (16 days) and the highest growth rate (69.01%) were obtained from Colutea armena seeds that were submersed in sulphuric acid for 30 min and sown in the greenhouse. The pre-treatment of submersion in sulphuric acid for 20 min with cold stratification for 60 days gave the highest germination percentage (82.77%) and the highest growth rate (79.37%) in the greenhouse for Cotinus coggygria seeds. On the other hand, the best germination rate (9 days) was obtained from smoketree seeds that were cold stratified 60 days and sown under open field conditions. It can be stated that there is an affirmative effect of the greenhouse condition on germination percentage and growth rate values of the seeds used in this study     

Effects of cold stratification on germination rate and percentage of caper (Capparis ovata Desf.) seeds

Caper is an important plant because of its high adaptability to marginal agriculture fields that are not suitable for agricultural crops. Different parts of caper such as roots, fruits, flowers and buds can be used to increase the inhabitant's income. The goal of this research is to determine germination rate and percentage of caper according to different duration of cold stratification (10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 days) treatments. Cold stratification procedures under greenhouse condition were applied for eliminating seed dormancy to find the most suitable germination conditions because the presence of seed dormancy causes difficulties in seedling production. The seed germination started and stopped 21 and 57 days after sowing, respectively. While the highest germination percentage (46.6%) was obtained in seeds that were cold stratified for 60 days, the lowest germination percentage (3.6 7%) was determined in control seeds.     

Studies on seed germination and growth in weed species of rice field under salinity stress

An investigation was made to see the salt tolerance of 10 weed species of rice. Properly dried and treated seeds of weed species were placed on 9 cm diameter petridishes lined with Whatman No. 1 filter paper under 6 salinity regimes, viz. 0 (control), 4, 8, 16, 24 and 32 dS m(-1). The petri dishes were then kept in germinator at 25 +/- 1.0 degrees C and 12 hr light. The number of germinated seeds were recorded daily. The final germination percentage, germination index (GI), seedling vigour index, mean germination time and time for 50% germination were estimated. Root and shoot lengths of the weed seedlings were measured at 20 days after salt application and relative growth values were calculated. Results revealed that salinity decreased final germination percentage, seed of germination as measured by GI, and shoot and root length in all the species. Germination of most of the weed seeds was completely arrested (0) at 32 dS m(-1) salinity except in E. colona (12%) and C. iria (13.9%). The species C. iria, E. colona, J. linifolia and E. crusgalli showed better germination (above 30%) upto 24 dS m(-1) salinity level and were regarded as salt-tolerant weed species. J. linifolia, F. miliacea, L. chinensis and O. sativa L. (weedy rice) were graded as moderately tolerant and S. zeylanica, S. grosus and C. difformis were regarded as least tolerant weed species.     

Response in germination and seedling growth in Phaseolus mungo under salt and drought stress

The effect of salt and drought stress at the water potentials of-2, -4,-6and -8 bars induced by NaCl and PEG 6000 (Polyethylene glycol 6000) each, on germination and early seedling growth, were investigated for two varieties (PU-19 and Type-9). Electrical conductivity (EC) value of the NaCl solutions were 4.5, 8.8, 12.7 and 16.3 dS m(-1). Germination percentage, root and shoot length, and seedling fresh and dry weight were measured in the study. The objective was to determine genotypic differences among P. mungo varieties in terms of salt and drought stress and to determine factors (salt toxicity or osmotic stress due to PEG) inhibiting seed germination. The germination results revealed that the genotypes significantly differed for salt and drought stress. PU-19 appeared to be more tolerant to salt and drought stress comparable to var Type-9. Both NaCl and PEG inhibited germination and seedling growth in both the varieties, but the effects of NaCI compared to PEG was less on germination and seedling growth. All varieties were able to germinate at all NaCl levels without significant decrease in germination, while a drastic decrease in germination was recorded at -6 and -8 bars of PEG. It was concluded that inhibition in germination at equivalent water potential of NaCl and PEG was mainly due to an osmotic effect rather than salt toxicity.     

Frost drought in conifers at the alpine timberline: xylem dysfunction and adaptations

Drought stress can cause xylem embolism in trees when the water potential (psi) in the xylem falls below specific vulnerability thresholds. At the alpine timberline, frost drought is known to cause excessive winter embolism unless xylem vulnerability or transpiration is sufficiently reduced to avoid critical psi. We compared annual courses of psi and embolism in Picea abies, Pinus cembra, Pinus mugo, Larix decidua, and Juniperus communis growing at the timberline vs. low altitude. In addition, vulnerability properties and related anatomical parameters as well as wood density (D(t)) and wall reinforcement (wall thickness related to conduit diameter) were studied. This allowed an estimate of stress intensities as well as a detection of adaptations that reduce embolism formation. At the alpine timberline, psi was lowest during winter with corresponding embolism rates of up to 100% in three of the conifers studied. Only Pinus cembra and Larix decidua avoided winter embolism due to moderate psi. Minor embolism was observed at low altitude where the water potentials of all species remained within a narrow range throughout the year. Within species, differences in psi50 (psi at 50% loss of conductivity) at high vs. low altitude were less than 1 MPa. In Picea abies and Pinus cembra, psi50 was more negative at the timberline while, in the other conifer species, psi50 was more negative at low altitude. Juniperus communis exhibited the lowest (-6.4 +/- 0.04 MPa; mean +/- SE) and Pinus mugo the highest psi50 (-3.34 +/- 0.03 MPa). In some cases, D(t) and tracheid wall reinforcement were higher than in previously established relationships of these parameters with psi50, possibly because of mechanical demands associated with the specific growing conditions. Conifers growing at the alpine timberline were exposed to higher drought stress intensities than individuals at low altitude. Frost drought during winter caused high embolism rates which were probably amplified by freeze-thaw stress. Although frost drought had a large effect on plant water transport, adaptations in hydraulic safety and related anatomical parameters were observed in only a few of the conifer species studied.     

Seed germination of Cistus creticus L. and Cistus laurifolius L. as influenced by dry-heat, soaking in distilled water and gibberellic acid

The effects of dry-heat and seed soaking in distilled water or in gibberellic acid on germination performance of Cistus creticus L. and C. laurifolius L. were studied in the present study Germination percentages of two Cistus species were low due to dormancy Soaking in distilled water for 24 hr resulted in 28% germination in C. creticus and 43% in C. laurifolius. Gibberellic acid applications (20, 100 and 250 mg l(-1)) for 24 hr gave 32, 30 and 23% germination, respectively in Cistus creticus and 33, 37 and 28% germination, respectively in C. laurifolius. Dry-heat pretreatments at 50, 80 and 100 degrees C for several times (1-60 min) also significantly increased germination percentage in two species. The highest germination in C. creticus was obtained with dry-heat at 100 degrees C for 1 or 5 min (80% and 83%, respectively) and in C. laurifolius at 100 degrees C for 5 min (87%). A significant increase in germination rate was also achieved under different pretreatments. The physiological dormancy caused by an impermeable seed coat can be overcome by dry-heat pretreatments in two Cistus species.     

盐生植物种子萌发的特点及其生理基础

用NaCl和等渗PEG处理8种盐生植物和2种非盐生植物种子。结果表明：NaCl和等渗PEG对所有种子的萌发率都产生抑制作用,而且PEG（对盐生植物）的抑制程度大于等渗NaCl,NaCl对盐生植物萌发的抑制水平随处理时间延长而降低,但对非盐生植物种子萌发率的抑制程度增大到8d以后即不再增大。另外,在0．6MPaNaCl下,随处理时间延长,盐地碱蓬和琐琐种子的α－淀粉酶活性不断提高,SOD活性基本不变,但小麦和大麦种子的α－淀粉酶活性在处理8d后接近最大值,SOD活性显著下降,这些结果说明,影响盐生植物种子萌发率的因素与渗透胁迫,种子内部一些关键酶的活性及萌发过程中大量吸收和积累盐离子等都有关系。图6参19     

Effects of different pretreatments on germination of Prunus serotina seed sources

Establishing intensive plantations of fast growing hardwood tree species that have high market values in the forest industry can narrow the gap between Turkey's demand and the supply of quality hardwood products. Black cherry (P. serotina Ehrh.) is a fast growing hardwood species with a high market value. Introducing and intensively growing black cherry (BC) in Turkey may significantly reduce the country's quality wood shortage. Adequate seed germination constitutes the first essential step for successful establishments. In this paper effects of different pretreatments, including artificial and natural stratification, on the seeds of different BC seed sources (SSs) were studied. Pretreatments had substantial effects on the dormancy breaking and germination behaviours of the SSs. Consecutive periods of complex warm and cold artificial stratification regimes longer than 90 days or natural stratification (where seeds were assumed to be naturally exposed to this complexity) resulted in best dormancy breaking and, in turn, germination among all pretreatments. Deeper dormancy and reduced germination rates of some BC seeds as the altitude of the source increases might suggest an ecological adaptive strategy of the species. BC may have deeper morphophysiological dormancy than is commonly believed. Seed size may have a positive effect on seed germination.     

Simulation of germination of pioneer species along an experimental drought gradient

The germination of ten plant species from the Iberian Peninsula was assessed along a water deficit gradient between -0. 1652 (moist) and -0.4988 MPa (dry) of osmotic potential, created by addition of increasing concentrations of polyethylene glycol (PEG 6000) to distilled water in which plants were grown hydroponically. The level and rate of germination of Daucus carota and Thapsia villosa significantly decreased with decreasing psi. Seeds of Dactylis glomerata and Dittrichia viscosa had positive germination responses to low osmotic potentials; germination of Epilobium hirsutum was not affected by osmotic potential. Germination of Medicago arabica, Cynosurus cristatus, Cistus ladanifer and Cistus albidus, was no favored by the addition of polyethylene glycol (PEG). Germination of Foeniculum vulgare and Thapsia villosa was inhibited by PEG.     

Impact of osmotic stress on seed germination and seedling growth in black gram (Phaseolus mungo)

An experiment was conducted to see the impact of osmotic stress as it is one of the main cause in various soil and water disorders in agricultural field crops, speciallythe seed germination and seedling growth. The osmotic stress was generated using PEG-6000 and the seed germination, seedling growth were evaluated including the status of pigments i.e. chlorophyll (a, b and total), total carotenoids, pheophytin (a, b and total) and different enzymes like amylase, peroxidase, catalase and superoxide dismutase. The various osmotic potentials generated (-2, -5 and -10 bars) showed significant decrease in germination percentage as at the osmotic potential of -10 bars it was observed 70 in comparison to 90% of control. All the seedling growth parameter also showed inhibition with increase in osmotic potential. Increase in osmotic stress decreased Chlorophyll 'a', while Chlorophyll 'b' was increased in -5 bars while total chlorophyll showed decrease in -5 bars osmotic potential. Total carotenoids and pheophytin (a, b and total) were highly increased in -5 bars and decreased in -10 bars osmotic concentration. Enzymatic activity was found to be decreased in amylase while peroixidase, catalase and SOD were increased at different osmotic gradients in comparison to control. The data observed in the experiment can be helpful to assess the impact of any kind of osmotic stress on plant growth and development in crops.     

Viable embryogenesis of the winter flounder Pseudopleuronectes americanus from - 1.8° to 15°C

Pseudopleuronectes americanus spawns in late winter near New York, and its eggs may be found in shallow water under ice at temperatures below the usual freezing point of vertebrate tissues. Survival and duration of development at a variety of constant temperatures were recorded for artificially fertilized eggs in the laboratory. Many eggs hatched into normal larvae after 2 months at the lowest temperature tried,-1.8°C. The upper lethal temperature was about 15°C. There was a linear relation between log time and temperature in the minimum mortality range (0° to 10°C), with a Q₁₀ of about 4.8.     

ABA对米槠和格氏栲种子发育的影响

采用酶联免疫分析法（ＥＬＩＳＡ） 提取和测定米槠和格氏栲发育过程中果实内ＡＢＡ含量,并用不同浓度ＡＢＡ喂养,测定果实不同发育期对外源ＡＢＡ的敏感性．用放射性同位素法测定ＡＢＡ对贮藏蛋白质的积累作用,结果表明：在米槠和格氏栲种子发育过程中内源ＡＢＡ 含量逐渐上升,两者均在１０ 月５ 日达到峰值,米槠为１６４８ ｎｇｇ,格氏栲为１ ４６８ ｎｇｇ,随后ＡＢＡ含量均逐渐下降．果实成熟采收时,ｃ（ＡＢＡ） 仅为高峰时的１９．随着果实的发育对外加ＡＢＡ的敏感性逐渐变小,ｃ（ＡＢＡ）＝１０－４ ｍｏｌＬ－１ 可以完全抑制１０ 月２５ 日（ 米槠） 和１０ 月１５ 日（ 格氏栲） 前种子发芽,但对完全成熟的种子ｃ（ＡＢＡ）＝１０－２ ｍｏｌＬ－１ 亦不能抑制发芽．ＡＢＡ 对成熟前期胚的贮藏蛋白质合成无影响,但能促进成熟中后期胚的贮藏蛋白质的积累作用,ＡＢＡ维持米槠和格氏栲贮藏蛋白质合成和积累作用表现在转录水平上．     

部分菊科入侵种种子(瘦果)的萌发能力和幼苗建群特性

对入侵种种子生物学各方面的了解有助于更好地预测入侵趋势和评估可持续管理的策略.研究通过对部分菊科入侵种种子(瘦果)进行的室内萌发实验和土壤埋藏实验,通过与相关研究的对比和分析,对这些入侵种的萌发能力和幼苗建群特性进行了研究.10个入侵种种子室内萌发实验的结果表明,在25℃、12h光照的情况下,除钻形紫菀和一年蓬以外,被研究的其它8个种的终萌发率超过了50%,而且都显示出早期快速萌发的特点.用SPSS的曲线拟合工具对10个种的累积萌发趋势进行了曲线回归分析,对应的最佳模型均为三次曲线方程.不同土壤埋藏深度下幼苗出苗实验的结果表明,菊科8个入侵种的种子在表土的出苗率均最高,随着覆土厚度的增加,种子的出苗率逐渐降低,当覆土厚度超过3 cm以上时,所有种子均不能出苗.种子在不同的埋藏深度的出苗情况与种子的大小有关,较大种子破土能力相对较强;种子在不同的埋藏深度的出苗情况与种子本身的萌发能力也相关.土壤埋藏期限的实验结果表明,随埋藏时期的增加,小蓬草、苏门白酒草和一年蓬3个人侵种种子的活力逐步降低,在土壤中埋藏12个月后,其活力分别为21.34%、18.15%和27.38%.这些入侵种较广的种子萌发温度适应范围和高萌发率为防除工作带来了困难.在生产上,可通过不同时期的翻耕、将种子深埋等措施减少这些入侵种的危害.     

The search for indigenous dune stabilizers: Germination requirements of selected South African species

The coastline of South Africa is characterized by extensive dune fields which are threatened by development, and thus the demand of stabilization of drift sand will increase. The non-invasive alien grass speciesAmmophila arenaria is at present the dominant sand stabilizer. Due to its foreign origin and invasiveness in North America its use was criticized and indigenous sand-binding species would be preferred. The germination requirements of the nativeArctotheca populifolia, Ipomoea pes-caprae. Myrica cordifolia andScaevola plumieri were investigated. The results showed that for all four species the total germination time and germination phase could be shortened and germination success (number of germinated seeds) improved. The different scarification and stratification treatments broke the dormancy ofI. pes-caprae, M. cordifolia andS. plumieri, whereas the seeds ofA. populifolia were not dormant. Seeds ofI. pes-caprae andM. cordifolia had induced an innate dormancy, respectively, whereas the type of dormancy in seeds ofS. plumieri dormancy processes remained unknown.     

Photosynthetic activity of the non-dormant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Posidonia oceanica</Emphasis> seed

The photosynthetic adaptive features of non-dormant seeds in Posidonia oceanica were studied in order to evaluate the effects of light on germination success. Transmission electron micrographs showed the presence of chloroplasts in the epidermal cells, close to the nucleus at the periphery of the cytoplasm. The well-developed thylakoid membranes and the presence of starch granules indicated that the chloroplasts were photosynthetically active. The relationship between photosynthesis versus irradiance in P. oceanica seeds incubated at 15 and 21°C was analysed. The net photosynthesis in the non-dormant seed of P. oceanica was positive and compensated its respiration demand (90 μmol quanta m⁻² s⁻¹) at both temperatures. Net photosynthesis was negative at the other irradiance values. To test the effects of light on germination success, seeds were placed both in dark and light conditions. Germination success was significantly higher in light rather than in dark condition. The characteristics observed in the photosynthesis in P. oceanica seed could be a mechanism to guarantee seedling survival in temperate waters, demonstrating though the specialized nature of this species.     

铬胁迫下不同品种小麦萌发和内源激素的变化

采用K2(CrO4)3溶液,设5个浓度,对3种不同抗性的小麦品种(新麦19、矮抗58和豫麦18)进行萌发期胁迫处理,研究了幼苗的发芽势、发芽率、根长、芽长及内源激素含量的变化.结果表明:(1)随着铬浓度的增加,发芽势、发芽率和芽长均基本呈"先升后降"趋势;(2)同一浓度铬处理下,发芽率、发芽势和芽长从大到小的顺序依次为:新麦19、矮抗58、豫麦18,根长从大到小的顺序为:豫麦18、新麦19、矮抗58;(3)150 mg L-1的铬胁迫下,IAA与ABA在小麦幼苗、幼根中含量降低,在籽粒中含量升高,其中新麦19籽粒和根芽中ABA含量均高于其他品种的;(4)不同浓度铬胁迫下,IAA/ABA值在新麦19中最低,变化幅度最小,新麦19表现出较强的抵抗铬胁迫能力.图3表1参20     

Production of valued materials from squid viscera by subcritical water hydrolysis

Subcritical water hydrolysis was carried out to produce valued materials from squid viscera, the waste product of fish processing industries. The reaction temperatures for hydrolysis of rawand deoiled squid viscera were maintained from 180 to 280 degrees C for5 min. The ratio of material to water forhydrolysis was 1:50. Most of the proteins from deoiled squid viscera were recovered at high temperature. The protein yield in raw squid viscera hydrolyzate decreased with the rise of temperature. The reducing sugar yield was higher at high temperature in subcritical water hydrolysis of both raw and deoiled squid viscera. The highest yield of amino acids in raw and deoiled squid viscera hydrolyzates were 233.25 +/- 3.25 and 533.78 +/- 4.13 mg g(-1) at 180 and 280 degrees C, respectively. Most amino acids attained highest yield at the reaction temperature range of 180-220 degrees C and 260-280 degrees C for raw and deoiled samples, respectively. The recovery of amino acids from deoiled squid viscera was about 1.5 times higher than that of raw squid viscera.     

水分胁迫下不同油松种源SOD、POD、MDA及可溶性蛋白比较研究

采用盆栽控水试验方法,设置正常水分（T1,田间持水量的70%~80%）、轻度胁迫（T2,田间持水量的50%~60%）和严重胁迫（T3,田间持水量的30%~40%）3个水分梯度,对6个油松Pinus tabulaeformis Carr.种源幼苗（陕西洛南LN,陕西桥山QO,山西灵空山LK,山西芦芽山LY,河北雾灵山WL和辽宁千山QN）的保护酶参数进行了分析。结果表明,在T3下,各种源的可溶性蛋白质含量、超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）活性、过氧化物酶（POD）活性和丙二醛（MDA）含量差异均极显著（P〈0.01）;LK种源的可溶性蛋白质含量显著高于其它种源,种源LK、WL和LN依靠提高可溶性蛋白质含量来调节细胞渗透势以抵抗干旱胁迫的能力较强;种源QN和QO的SOD活性达到最大,它们通过增加SOD活性来清除O2.-用以抵抗膜脂过氧化的能力较强。整个水分处理过程中,种源LN和LY的POD活性均较高,而QN的POD活性较低,LN和LY通过增加POD活性分解H2O2对细胞破坏的能力较强;各油松种源的膜脂质过氧化程度在T3下均有所降低。     

生物质炭对土霉素胁迫下小白菜种子萌发的影响

采用土培模拟污染实验,将甘蔗渣炭、菠萝渣炭和木薯渣炭分别以0%、0.1%、0.5%和1.0%的炭土比添加到砖红壤中,研究土霉素胁迫下小白菜种子萌发效应。结果表明:(1)生物质炭促进种子萌发;土霉素在0~300 mg·kg~(-1)胁迫下种子发芽率未受明显影响,300~500 mg·kg~(-1)时受轻微抑制。(2)土霉素为0~100 mg·kg~(-1)时对种子根及芽伸长呈促进作用,促进率最高达33.05%。100~500 mg·kg~(-1)呈抑制效应,最大抑制率63.98%;种子对土霉素的敏感顺序依次为:根伸长>芽伸长>发芽率。(3)在土霉素胁迫下炭土比与种子根伸长呈显著正相关。3种生物质炭对小白菜种子根及芽伸长的促进效果呈:木薯渣炭>菠萝渣炭>甘蔗渣炭。(4)生物质炭和低浓度土霉素共同促进小白菜萌发,对高浓度土霉素毒性有缓解作用。